You are not affected by the new rules. Please see instructions below for filing a Small Miners Waiver.

Sept. 1, 2015

You file a new placer mining claim

You pay $212 (includes $37.00 Location Fee and $20.00 Processing Fee), for each new location and you pay $155 for every 20 acres or portion thereof up to 160 acres maximum. For example, a 40 acre claim = $367 ($212.00 + $155.00) OR 20 acre claim = $367.00

All new locations must pay $212, plus $155 for every 20 acres or portion thereof, even if your "location date" on your form is August 31st of the current year. Claims will expire the next day if you do not turn in your yearly fillings. Which means by September 1st of the current year, pay the Maintenance Fee of $155 for every 20 acres or portion thereof to the Sacramento Office or turn in the Small Miners Waiver. The Notice of Intent to Hold (NOI) and $10 per mining claim/site processing fee is due to the Sacramento Office by December 30, 2014, or you may turn in the NOI earlier.

Upon filing (within 90 days from date of location)

Please see below for the "Small Miners Waiver" requirements.

Here is a chart to see the breakdown of acreages and Maintenance Fees per acre.

Acreage of claim

Fee to pay BLM

1 through 20 Acres

$155

21 through 40 Acres

$310

41 through 60 Acres

$465

61 through 80 Acres

$620

81 through 100 Acres

$775

101 through 120 Acres

$930

121 through 140 Acres

$1,085

141 through 160 Acres

$1,240

*NEW MINING CLAIMS LOCATION FEE*

Acreage of "new location" claim

Fee to pay BLM for "new claim"

1 through 20 Acres

$212

21 through 40 Acres

$367

41 through 60 Acres

$522

61 through 80 Acres

$677

81 through 100 Acres

$832

101 through 120 Acres

$987

121 through 140 Acres

$1,142

141 through 160 Acres

$1,297

THESE FILING INSTRUCTIONS ARE PROVIDED TO YOU ON THE WEB AS A COURTESY OF THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, CALIFORNIA STATE OFFICE.

MINING CLAIMS/SITES FILING INSTRUCTIONS FOR 2016

DUE ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

WHAT MUST BE PAID OR FILED?

Pay the 2016 Maintenance Fee of $155 per lode claim, mill site, or tunnel site. For placer claims only , you must pay $155 per every 20 acres or portion thereof *, on or before September 1, 2015.

OR

File a 2016 Maintenance Fee Waiver Certification , Form 3830-2 (commonly referred to as a Small Miner’s Waiver) on or before September 1, 2015. There is no charge for filing a Small Miner’s Waiver.

AND

Because you file the 2016 Small Miner’s Waiver , you must ALSO file the following:

ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 30, 2015

For placer and lode claims listed on the Small Miner’s Waiver, you must file a 2015 Affidavit of Assessment Work (also known as a Proof of Labor), along with the $10 processing fee per claim . Please note that you do not have to Notarize your Assessment Form for the BLM. Check with your individual counties if you need to Notarize your Assessment Form.

For mill or tunnel sites listed on the Small Miner’s Waiver, you must file a 2015 Notice of Intent to Hold or, write on the Small Miner’s Waiver that it serves as a Notice of Intent to Hold for the mill or tunnel site listed on the waiver and include the $10 processing fee per site .

We highly recommend that you file your Affidavit of Assessment Work and/or the Notice of Intent to Hold at the same time you file your 2015 Small Miner’s Waiver .

IMPORTANT REMINDER: For those who filed a 2014 Small Miner’s Waiver last year (by September 1, 2015), you must file your 2015 Affidavit of Assessment Work on or before December 30, 2015, regardless of whether you pay the $155 Maintenance Fee this year for 2016.

CAN YOU QUALIFY FOR THE 2015 SMALL MINER’S WAIVER?

You may qualify for a Small Miner’s Waiver if all owners listed on the small miner’s waiver own ten or fewer claims and/or sites nationwide . All claims, mill and tunnel sites must be listed on the Small Miner’s Waiver. The Small Miner’s Waiver must contain the original signatures ( in blue ink ) of all owners . If an agent signs for the owners, a notarized designation of the agent, signed by all owners, must be on file with the BLM or be submitted with the waiver. An agent signing the waiver for more than one owner, must list each owner’s name, address and sign for each individual owner listed on the waiver (i.e. 5 claimants requires 5 signatures by the agent).

WHERE DO YOU FILE?

Information Access Center

Bureau of Land Management

California State Office

2800 Cottage Way, Ste. W-1623

Sacramento, CA 95825 Phone: (916) 978-4400

BE ALERT!

FILING REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE!

As an owner of mining claims, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for keeping yourself informed of the changes in the filing requirements and the mining laws. Congress may pass legislation affecting filing requirements and the procedures may change. It is suggested that you contact our office periodically to stay up to date. Visit our website at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/iac.html .

To check the status of mining claims go to http://www.blm.gov/lr2000/ . If you have any questions, please contact BLM’s Information Access Center at (916) 978-4400.

The Maintenance Fee "form" is not mandatory.

The Maintenance Fee Waiver Certification "form" is MANDATORY.

The Affidavit of Assessment Work "form" is optional.

"COUNTY" RECORDER FILING REQUIREMENTS

In addition to filing with the BLM, file a 2015 Affidavit of Assessment Work or Notice of Intent to Hold with the county recorder’s office by September 30th. The location of this office will always be in the county seat of the county in which your claims are situated.

NOTE: If you pay the 2016 MAINTENANCE FEE, for county purposes indicate on an Affidavit of Assessment Work form that you have paid the 2016 Maintenance Fee to BLM, and the date on which you paid it.